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Purple bacteria and their less known applications

Jungwoo Lee, High-School Student, and Arpita Bose, Associate Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, guide us through purple bacteria and their less-known applications, including wastewater treatment and biofertilization.
Figure 1. The reflexivity of AARS genes and the challenges of understanding its origin. The figure illustrates three main challenges. (I) We must construct a bidirectional gene (salmon background) that uses a minimal amino acid alphabet to encode ancestral AARS from Classes I and II on opposite strands. Polypeptide and nucleic acid sequences have directions indicated by (N,C) and (5’,3’). The genes are sequences of codons (colored ellipses) and use only two types of amino acids, A and B. (II) We must show that both coded proteins (I and II) fold into active assignment catalysts that recognize both amino acid and tRNA (colored letters, ellipses in cavities), producing (mostly) aminoacyl-tRNAs with correct amino acids and anticodons. (III) We have to show that the aminoacylated RNAs can assemble onto messenger RNAs (I) and (II), transcribed from the bidirectional gene (reversed dashed arrows).

Structural biology research and the origins of genetic coding

Charles W. Carter, Jr, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, reviews the ways that recent research in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Phylogenetics have opened the origins of genetic coding to experimental study and their important implications.
Figure 1: Abnormal pain response in IBD and Endometriosis.

Therapeutic potential of the endocannabinoid system to treat chronic pain in inflammatory disease

Pharma researchers Julie Blaising and Philip Smith from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. discuss the endocannabinoid system as a pathway to treat inflammatory diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and endometriosis.
Sunlit tree canopy in tropical jungle, forest genetic diversity

Protecting genetic diversity to benefit nature and society

There are three ways that governments and other conservation actors at all levels can monitor and protect genetic diversity, supporting the attainment of biodiversity goals and targets. But first, what is genetic diversity, and is there potential to safeguard it better?
Analyzing samples

Carbon dots in forensics, environmental science, and medicine

Dr. Cecilia E. Van Cauwenberghe, from Frost & Sullivan, explains the revolutionary impact of carbon dots in forensics, environmental science, and medicine to detect, diagnose, and treat.
Coronavirus. COVID-19. Copy space. 3D Render

Building global health with lego vaccines

Prof Tuck Seng Wong and Dr Kang Lan Tee from the University of Sheffield, explain building global health with LEGO vaccines.
classical biological control

Classical biological control: Nature-based solutions to reduce pesticide usage

Professor Martin Hill from the Centre for Biological Control at Rhodes University discusses the benefits of classical biological control and highlights the necessary considerations for this approach.
cornflower blue meadow

Appreciating biodiversity science: Why biodiversity should be a big science

Professor F. Guillaume Blanchet from Université de Sherbrooke posits the importance of treating biodiversity science as a big science to reach the goals set during the COP15 on biodiversity.

Reducing climate change and global warming

Professor Ken Naitoh from Waseda University in Japan charts a particular interdisciplinary carbon-neutral approach for reducing climate change and global warming that he believes will lead to a more peaceful world.

MAGL inhibition: A novel treatment option for combating inflammatory disease?

Pharma researchers Uwe Grether and Julie Blaising from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. highlight the vast therapeutic potential of MAGL inhibition for central and peripheral diseases.

Youths’ solutions to local invasive species

Educating students about real-world, issues such as local invasive species aims to encourage wider engagement with STEM.
ripening in the sun but still green

Global challenges and unilateral trade measures

Dr Wibke Meyer from CropLife International, argues that unilateral agricultural trade measures are a misguided approach to addressing the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity, and food security.
Cellular therapy. 3d illustration

Engineered endosymbionts for cellular control

Christopher H. Contag from the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ) at Michigan State University discusses the potential of engineered endosymbionts as biologically encoded remote controls for regenerative medicine.

Photodynamic therapy and immune response in solid tumours

Photodynamic therapy can stimulate a person’s own immune system to better recognise – and fight – cancer tumours, say Mary Potasek, PhD and Karl Beeson, PhD of Simphotek and Theresa M Busch, PhD of the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania.

CH-Bioforce strives for a cleaner world with unique bioforsense technology

In this interview, Petri Tolonen, CEO of CH-Bioforce, sheds light on the environmental benefits of Bioforsense technology.
Image: © Benoit Queguineur, Algaia

Algae4IBD Project: Are algae the solution for inflammatory bowel disease

The Algae4IBD project seeks effective treatments for a chronic disease affecting 6.8 million people. Juan F. Samaniego explores whether algae are the definitive solution for inflammatory bowel diseases.
Antibody binding to human cell receptors is a crucial aspect of the immune response and plays a fundamental role in various physiological processes, including immune defense, signaling, and regulation of cellular functions. Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are proteins produced by the immune system in response to the presence of foreign substances, such as pathogens or abnormal cells.

High-resolution snapshots of antibody repertoires as potential correlates of protection

Klaus Eyer from ETH Zurich describes high-resolution snapshots of antibody repertoires as potential correlates of protection.

Microfluidic microbial bioreactors: How studying microbes at the microscale can help empower microbiology

Long before the existence of microbes was known, humans were unknowingly harnessing their power through practices such as brewing, bread leavening, or cheesemaking. These processes extended the shelf life of food, enhanced its nutritional value, and significantly contributed to the advancement of industry and civilization.
Figure 1. Elements of the operational RNA code in the tRNA acceptor stem. A. Bases in the tRNA acceptor stem encode two aspects of amino acid physical chemistry—size and polarity—that determine protein folding. B. Acceptor stem bases preceded the anticodon stem-loop and code other properties. C. The oldest parts of Class I and II AARS could already discriminate between both amino acid and RNA substrates (6) .

tRNA: The operational RNA code and protein folding

Charles W. Carter, Jr., from the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, relates molecular recognition used in genetic coding to structures of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and their cognate tRNAs.

Digital Life Norway (DLN) Initiative to foster and boost transdisciplinary biotechnology research and innovation

Meeting the rapid developments in biotechnology by fostering transdisciplinarity, including digitalisation and big data, to create convergence for innovation in a virtual centre.

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